Current ion channel-targeted drugs and potential of venom-derived peptides as a therapeutic new modality

Ion channel function is an essential mechanism for maintaining life and is involved in a variety of physiological activities. However, various factors such as heredity, aging, wounding, and diseases can cause abnormalities in ion channel function and expression. Such channel abnormalities can interfere with the healthy activities of the organism and threaten the maintenance of life. There are many types of ion channels, and their roles are diverse. In recent years, it is becoming clear that ion channels are intrinsically involved in a variety of diseases beyond what has been previously thought. Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop more drugs by increasing the variety of channels for drug discovery and the variety of diseases to be treated. In this review, we will introduce the ion channels that are currently targets for drug discovery and the mechanisms by which these channels are involved in diseases, focusing on information compiled on the Internet. Currently, the target ion channels for drug development and the diseases to be treated are becoming more diverse. The drugs under development are not only small molecules, which account for most of the ion channel drugs developed to date, but also different types of drugs, such as antibodies, peptides, and oligonucleotides. Many of existing ion channel drugs have side effect problems that may be due to their low specificity. Diversification of drugs may facilitate the resolution of these problems, and venom-derived peptide drugs are a promising class of future agents that can contribute to this end. In the last part of this review, the status of drug development of venom-derived peptides will also be discussed.